Scripturally, Do believers go to heaven? (Jesus Christ, Kingdom, hell, scriptures)

[Squirt]

Originally Posted by Buttercup

So you are saying that Mormons are the chosen ones?

No. Please don't think that.

[Buttons*]

Originally Posted by Squirt

Buttons, my dear, your opinion is always welcome and never pointless. Given that you believe in neither heaven nor hell, my answer to you may be pointless, though.

To me, a heaven comprised of different "degrees of glory" makes a great deal more sense than one where the most righteous and obedient of God's children received no greater reward than those who just "squeaked in by the skin of their teeth." It's also far more Biblical. In the Bible, Stephen spoke specifically of "the third heaven." How much sense does it make to believe in a third heaven if there is not also a first or a second heaven?

God loves us all the same, but He gave us commandments and stressed the need for us to keep them. Imagine a parent with two sons. He gives them the same rules and explains to both of them what the consequences will be if they disobey and what their reward will be if they obey. One of the sons is obedient and the other is not. Should the parent say to the first, "Well done! You have been obedient in all you've done. For this, I give you [such and such reward]."? And to the second, should He say, "You have disobeyed me at every opportunity. I have given you many opportunities to mend your ways, but you never have. But since I love you, I will disregard what I said I'd done if you disobeyed. You are to have the same reward for your bad behavior as your brother had for his good behavior."?

your answer makes a lot of sense to me, thank you for clarifying that! *smiles*

[Aqualung]

Originally Posted by Buttercup

So you are saying that Mormons are the chosen ones?

What do you mean by chosen ones?

Do you mean that all mormons, by virtue of the fact that they are mormons, will go to the celstial kingdom? That's not true.

What I mean is that there are certain things Christ needs from us for us to be exhalted. Some of those things (like baptism by one holding proper authority) can only be found in the mormon church.

[Buttercup]

I asked Aqua if LDS think other denominations of Christians go to heaven. She said not the 'best' heaven (celestial kingdom). What else am I supposed to surmise from that statement?

[Buttercup]

Originally Posted by Aqualung

What I mean is that there are certain things Christ needs from us for us to be exhalted. Some of those things (like baptism by one holding proper authority) can only be found in the mormon church.

Right. So I ask again, do you think only these Mormons are the chosen ones?

[Buttons*]

Originally Posted by Aqualung

He loves us all the same, but some people don't earn it. It would be very unloving to give two people exactly the same thing when one person deserves it more than the other.

How is unconditional love "unloving"?

[Aqualung]

Originally Posted by Buttercup

Right. So I ask again, do you think only these Mormons are the chosen ones?

And I said, Depends what you mean by "chosen ones."

[Squirt]

Originally Posted by Buttercup

I asked Aqua if LDS think other denominations of Christians go to heaven. She said not the 'best' heaven (celestial kingdom). What else am I supposed to surmise from that statement?

Why do I let myself get involved in these discussions between you and Aqualung? Methinks I should learn to keep my mouth shut. How do I go about explaining our belief so that you will understand it while, at the same time, not coming across as critical of how Aqualung explained it? You just got through debating Aqualung, Buttercup. You should realize by now that her answers are not always "complete" enough to present the total picture. While they may be technically correct, there is sometimes a difference between, "the truth," "the whole truth," and "nothing but the truth." I believe that Aqualung told you the truth. I believe that the whole truth is a bit more complex than she may have indicated. Do you want me to go into it, or should I butt out?

[Aqualung]

Originally Posted by Buttons*

How is unconditional love "unloving"?

What is unconditional love? Giving the same reward to people who don't deserve the same reward? I thought unconditional love just meant you would always love that person, not that you would give them what they don't deserve.